FRANS STEYN EXCLUSIVE: WORLD CUP WINNER EYES BRITISH & IRISH LIONS DOUBLE JUNE 2020 2020 JUNE ISSUE 271 ISSUE BOKS’ BEST OUR WRITERS PICK THEIR DREAM TEAMS @SARUGBYMAG US ON TWITTER FOLLOW AND INSTAGRAM XXX XXXX SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE du toit on the REALISING HIS comeback POTENTIAL trail BEAST MTAWARIRA ‘MY HEART IS FULL’ JUNE 2020 ISSUE 271 R31.90 ( incl VAT) Other countries R27.74 (excl TAX) KOBUS VAN WYK LOVING LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND Cover_Template.indd 1 2020/05/04 2:12 PM 130420 - 210x275mm - MSC Cruises - Compleat Golfer.pdf 1 4/8/2020 5:14:37 PM T H E S E A A T I TS M O S T WELCOMING C M Y CM MY CY CMY K On an MSC Cruise, we welcome you on board with a never-ending aspiration to satisfy our guests’ every need and deliver a truly unforgettable holiday experience. All of our staff are highly trained and focused on providing world-class service, all for your benefit. We welcome people from around the world and are dedicated to creating a richness of experiene for our guests that is personal, yet considered. For more information, visit msccruises.co.za MSC.indd 1 2020/04/30 14:11 ISSUE 271 Contents RETURNING STRONGER PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT HAS A NEW OUTLOOK ON THE GAME 16 BY JON CARDINELLI IN FULL FLIGHT A move to the Sharks has helped Sikhumbuzo 22 Notshe begin to realise his immense potential BY MIKE GREENAWAY FULL CIRCLE World Cup winner Frans Steyn is heading back 26 to Bloemfontein with a new set of goals BY MORGAN PIEK NOT ALL BLACK AND WHITE Former Bok coach Jake White arrives at the Bulls 30 having learned a number of life lessons BY CLINTON VAN DER BERG ALTERED LANDSCAPE The game as we know it will never be the 36 same due to the coronavirus pandemic BY CRAIG LEWIS BEAST MASTERPIECE Beast Mtawarira is taking strides in a new direction 40 after a fairytale end to his Test career ADRIAN DENNIS/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES ADRIAN DENNIS/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO BY JON CARDINELLI Contents_May270_new 2.indd 3 2020/05/05 9:36 AM BEST OF THE BUNCH SA Rugby magazine’s team of writers pick their 44 Bok Dream Teams from the past 25 years BY STAFF WRITERS STRENGTH OF CHARACTER Rising star Jordan Venter overcame a tragic 48 accident that altered his life forever BY JAMIE LYALL CHANGE OF SCENERY Former Sharks centre Paul Jordaan has 52 turned his attention to the family farm BY DYLAN JACK CEREBRAL CHALLENGE The important subject of mental health is STRENGTH OF FULL 56 increasingly being tackled on the rugby front 48 CHARACTER 26 CIRCLE BY CLINTON VAN DER BERG JOURNEY AGAINST THE ODDS Kobus van Wyk on his move to the Hurricanes 60 and coping during lockdown in New Zealand BY MARIETTE ADAMS FOREIGN FAVOURITES SA Rugby magazine picks an all-time 66 Super Rugby Overseas XV BY JON CARDINELLI FRESH PERSPECTIVE Sharks fl yhalf Curwin Bosch came into 2020 70 with a new approach and determined mindset BY CRAIG LEWIS BREAKING THROUGH .... Former Lions fl ank Cyle Brink is set to 74 embark on a new career path in England MIRACLE BY JAMIE LYALL 78 MICHAEL MIRACLE MICHAEL The inspirational story of New Zealand-born 78 Michael Fatialofa’s recovery from a spinal injury BY LIAM NAPIER 5 EDITOR’S LETTER MAN IN THE MIDDLE 7 SUBSCRIBE Referee Nigel Owens on laws he’d change, dealing 8 LINEBREAKS BEST OF 86 with backchat and his favourite match 44 THE BUNCH BY SARAH MOCKFORD 90 MY PERFECT XV JEAN STEFAN JON SIMNIKIWE RYAN DE VILLIERS TERBLANCHE CARDINELLI XABANISA VREDE The Springboks are Bill Beaumont has a It’s time for an aligned High-profile vacancies Johan Goosen’s blessed with depth crucial job to do at the global season to come in the SA rugby industry career shows why in most departments helm of World Rugby into effect is a worrying trend temperament is key 6 12 34 64 84 Contents_May270_new 2.indd 4 2020/05/05 9:36 AM Editorial Director Gary Lemke Group Deputy Sports Editor Philippa Byron Editor Craig Lewis Chief Rugby Writer Jon Cardinelli Senior Writer Mariette Adams At the beginning of May, South Africa’s Staff Writer Dylan Jack Copy Editors Mark Salter, Nick Krige lockdown had been eased to Stage 4. It Digital Media Manager Juandre Joubert offered a glimmer of hope that there was Art Director Stuart Apsey Designers Kyle Collison, Bulelani Kheswa, some light at the end of the devastating Celest Alexander, Abduraghmaan Davids coronavirus tunnel. Cover Repro Adri Papakonstantinou On the rugby scene, it has been a particularly challenging time Contributors Mike Greenaway, Jean de Villiers, Jamie Lyall, Sarah Mockford, Liam Napier, Morgan as talk of tournament cancellations and financial distress did Piek, Stefan Terblanche, Clinton van der Berg, Ryan the daily rounds. And yet there were also those who looked for Vrede, Simnikiwe Xabanisa Production Manager Rushaan Holliday the silver lining, suggesting that the break from action provided Deputy Production Manager Maggie Wasserfall an opportunity to consider radical changes for the long-term Ad Traffic Controller Sajidah Allie Ad Designer Manager Brumilda Fredericks betterment of the game. Ad Designers Abduraouf Bessick, Dionne Wicks, Here at SA Rugby magazine, we’ve also sought to carefully Tyrone Michaels Director of Sports Sales Niall Meegan consider the best possible content to offer at this time, and Advertising Sales Sam Adams, Ruth Chetty, there are no shortage of fascinating stories to be told even in Dreyer Hoffman, Roy Lategan the absence of live action. Chief Executive Officer Kevin Ferguson Managing Director Tony Walker One of those comes from our cover star, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Production Director Bilqees Allie who suffered a frightening injury just before Super Rugby was Financial Director Lindsey Makrygiannis HR Director Rizqah Jakoet suspended. The World Player of the Year opened up about this Debtors Manager Sharon Maneveld career-threatening and life-changing experience, revealing how CEO’s PA Kovi Naidoo Photography HM Images, BackpagePix, Gallo it has provided him with a renewed appreciation for the game. Images, Getty Images (unless otherwise credited) This theme of compelling off-field stories runs throughout this Cover Photos Getty images/Gallo images issue, with former Sharks centre Paul Jordaan detailing a change © Highbury Media (Pty) Ltd of career path, while we hear the miraculous stories of New 2004/031056/07, Highbury Media, 36 Old Mill Road, Ndabeni 7405, Cape Town, South Africa Zealander Michael Fatialofa and Paul Roos star Jordan Venter. SUBSCRIPTION RATE In addition, we have Available monthly to TFG group account holders for R30.99 (incl VAT) per issue; exclusive interviews Non-TFG account holders (12 issues): R359 (incl VAT) with Beast Mtawarira, Neighbouring states: R559; International: R859 SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Bloemfontein-bound TFG account holders: Phone (021) 938-7506, email [email protected], or SMS ‘SARUGBY’ Frans Steyn, Sharks star and your account number to 45176 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, new Non-TFG account holders: Phone (021) 416-0141, fax 086-567-1350, or email: [email protected] Bulls director of rugby Jake EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES White and much more. Tel: (021) 416-0141 Fax: (021) 421-1250 email: [email protected] Look out for our selection ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES of Bok Dream Teams and Tel: (021) 416-0141 Fax: (021) 418-0132 email: [email protected] an all-time Foreign XV from Super Rugby. We do take a closer Distributed by look at the considerable impact of Covid-19 on rugby, and there’s a special ISSN 2519-0512. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without permission is forbidden. Every report on mental health. care is taken in compiling the contents of this magazine but we assume no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. The Enjoy the read during this views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. extraordinary time and, most of all, keep safe! Craig Lewis ASHLEY VLOTMAN/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES IMAGES/GALLO VLOTMAN/GETTY ASHLEY 5 SAR271 Editorial.indd 5 2020/05/04 2:17 PM THE JEAN DE VILLIERS CHANGING COLUMN LANDSCAPE THE SPRINGBOKS ARE STILL SPOILED FOR CHOICE IN MOST DEPARTMENTS SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE WORLD CUP e often speak about four-year of the older players, like Duane Vermeulen and cycles and how a World Cup Frans Steyn, have expressed their desire to face marks the end. In the past, the the Lions in 2021. Meanwhile, there are a host of tournament has signified the y y for the Boks last year, of explosive performances. Winning the World Cup end of an era as a number of pushing for a spot in the wider squad. would have done wonders for their confidence. Wplayers retired from international rugby and South African rugby has come a long way. A team that claims to have strength in depth opted to finish their careers abroad. d to ignor has at least three quality options in each position. Over the past 12 months, however, we’ve the world at present, and how it may impact Suddenly the Boks have that at scrumhalf, as all witnessed a change in that pattern. Only a few on the game, the fact is this country now has three of those players are capable of starting big of the 33 players who featured for the Springboks some quality in depth. Come the Test season, Tests. I great to see other scrumhalves, like at the 2019 World Cup have decided to move on. Bok coach Jacques Nienaber will be spoiled Embrose Papier and Louis Schreuder, performing The majority of that squad will be available for for choice.